Author: Ableditor

Africa’s economic story is once again being told through encouraging growth projections. The continent is expected to remain among the faster-growing regions of the global economy, supported by recovering domestic demand, infrastructure investment and improving macroeconomic conditions in several countries. But there is a question behind the headline numbers: are ordinary Africans feeling the growth? Economic expansion does not automatically translate into better jobs, higher incomes or lower living costs. Across many countries, households continue to grapple with expensive food, high transport costs and limited employment opportunities. Businesses, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises, face high borrowing costs and volatile currencies.…

For years, renewable energy was largely discussed as an environmental issue. That conversation is changing. Across Africa, solar power is increasingly becoming an economic proposition. Falling equipment costs, growing electricity demand and unreliable power supply are creating new opportunities for businesses and investors. For manufacturers, electricity costs can determine whether a business remains competitive. For rural communities, access to reliable power can unlock irrigation, refrigeration and small-scale industry. Solar energy offers an alternative. The continent has some of the world’s strongest solar resources, yet millions of households and businesses remain without reliable electricity. That gap represents both a development challenge…

A quiet financial revolution is unfolding across West Africa. From Lagos to Accra and Abidjan, technology companies are changing how millions of people save, borrow, transfer money and run businesses. The region’s fintech boom is being driven by a familiar African reality: millions of people remain underserved by traditional banking systems. For decades, opening a bank account required paperwork, physical branches and formal employment. Digital technology is changing that equation. Today, a smartphone can serve as a bank branch. Fintech companies are building payment platforms, digital wallets, lending products and cross-border money transfer systems designed around the everyday needs of…

Africa’s appetite for infrastructure remains enormous. Roads, ports, railways, energy projects and digital networks are increasingly seen as essential foundations for economic growth. Yet the question confronting governments is becoming harder: who will pay for them? For decades, public borrowing has been the default answer. Governments borrowed to build highways, expand ports and connect rural communities to electricity. But rising debt burdens and expensive global financing have narrowed that option. The search is now shifting towards infrastructure funds, public-private partnerships and institutional investors. The argument is straightforward. Infrastructure should not merely be viewed as a government expense. A railway that…

Reduced reliance on thermal power generation could offer relief to Kenyan households and businesses grappling with high electricity costs. Thermal power plants, which rely largely on fossil fuels, are among the more expensive sources of electricity in Kenya’s energy mix. Their increased use can push up power generation costs, ultimately affecting consumer bills. A decline in dependence on thermal generation therefore strengthens the case for continued investment in cheaper renewable sources. Kenya has made significant progress in developing geothermal, wind and solar energy. Geothermal power, in particular, has become a key source of reliable baseload electricity and has helped position…

Kenya is intensifying efforts to attract major investments as policymakers seek to accelerate economic growth and create employment opportunities for a rapidly expanding workforce. The country is targeting billions of shillings in new investment commitments, reflecting the growing urgency of creating productive jobs, particularly for young people entering the labour market. Private sector investment has increasingly become central to the government’s economic strategy. Large projects can generate direct employment while creating opportunities for suppliers, contractors and small businesses across their value chains. Manufacturing, technology, renewable energy, agriculture and infrastructure are expected to remain important targets for investment promotion. Kenya is…

Fresh questions surrounding Airtel Kenya’s licensing arrangements have renewed attention on the regulatory framework governing one of the country’s most competitive and strategically important industries. The developments follow regulatory notices relating to telecommunications licences, including authorisations associated with network infrastructure and international connectivity. While licensing requirements are a routine part of operating in the sector, the matter has generated interest because of Airtel’s position as one of Kenya’s largest telecommunications companies. Telecommunications firms require different approvals depending on the infrastructure they own and the services they intend to provide. These may cover network facilities, service provision and the transmission of…

A prolonged dispute involving Tata Chemicals Magadi and the government has raised concerns over the future of a planned multi-billion-shilling expansion and renewed debate about investor confidence in Kenya. The proposed investment was expected to expand operations at the company’s Magadi facility, a strategic industrial asset with a long history in Kenya’s mining and manufacturing sector. Soda ash remains an important industrial mineral used in products ranging from glass and detergents to chemicals. An expansion of production capacity could strengthen Kenya’s position in regional and international supply chains. However, disagreements between investors and government institutions can delay projects, creating uncertainty…

To understand the new politics stance and other pro nationals of recent times, we should look to Silicon Valley and the quantified movement of the latest generation. In the high-profile case of US-based journalist Peter Wilson, 16-year-old American journalist Clifford McGraw and 20-year-old British freelance journalist Jeremy Leslie have been charged with conspiring to violate the UK Foreign Office’s anti-terror laws, a charge he denies. On Monday, UK attorney Andy McDonald revealed that he had spoken. “Few worry about catching Covid anymore, as it’s just a matter of time before they do,” says Tea, a teacher at a school for…

To understand the new politics stance and other pro nationals of recent times, we should look to Silicon Valley and the quantified movement of the latest generation. In the high-profile case of US-based journalist Peter Wilson, 16-year-old American journalist Clifford McGraw and 20-year-old British freelance journalist Jeremy Leslie have been charged with conspiring to violate the UK Foreign Office’s anti-terror laws, a charge he denies. On Monday, UK attorney Andy McDonald revealed that he had spoken. “Few worry about catching Covid anymore, as it’s just a matter of time before they do,” says Tea, a teacher at a school for…